New Hampshire has more than 500 athletes running the Boston Marathon, among them one who is used to reporting on the event.

Jamie Staton, sports director at WMUR News 9, is running the 26.2 miles for the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth. He is hoping to finish in under four hours but has already achieved his goal of getting a bib and helping CHaD.

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"Jamie's our hero," said Sharon Brown, director of community relations for CHaD.

She and the whole communications team at CHaD came to the newsroom on Wednesday to present Staton with his official shirt to wear during the race and gave him a huge Spiderman Balloon and cupcakes.

Staton is still collecting donations for CHaD at this link and said every dollar "makes a big difference."

As of Wednesday, he had raised $4,300.

"What these children go through, and what a huge difference CHaD makes in their lives, should never go unnoticed and needs to be supported," he said for an interview in the Dartmouth Hitchcock Newsletter.

A Windham native and Pinkerton Academy graduate, Staton returned to New Hampshire for his "dream job" after graduating from Ithaca College.

While covering local sports, he started entering road races for fun about five years ago.

Last year, Staton was near the finish line, covering New Hampshire athletes at the Boston Marathon, when the explosion occurred.

"We were set up outside the medical tent and saw all the victims streaming in one after another. What should have been a celebration turned into complete chaos," he said.

But from the pain, Staton said he "has grown a big determination to return things to normal, and I am honored to be among the 36,000 runners this year."

He began training the day after Christmas with long runs, speed workouts and tempo runs, and every single run was outside. He has run over 400 miles since Christmas.

While training, he missed seven runs with a calf injury.

In the past, Staton has run two marathons and 17 half-marathons, but this will be his first Boston Marathon.

"This is regarded as the most prestigious race in the world and it is the oldest at 118 years old," he said.

Staton approached CHaD to run in Boston to raise funds for sick New Hampshire children.

For CHaD, he has been a long-time supporter with a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the kids.

Brown recalled how Staton agreed to be a master of ceremonies at a fundraiser about a decade ago. It was a regatta on Lake Sunapee.

Since then, he has used his high-profile job to create and promote a fundraiser for CHaD called the Battle of the Badges hockey game, which features police and firefighters from across the state. The event has raised $1.2 million over the years.

"He has become a major advocate for these children," Brown said.

Staton is the only runner at Boston who is raising funds for CHaD.

He said he feels like Christmas is coming and is very excited to be a participant, rather than a reporter.